Good night, sleep tight
Remember Goldilocks testing all the beds in Mama, Papa and Baby Bear’s house till she found the one that was just right for her? Anyone buying a mattress would be well-advised to do the same thing even today. For not only is it a long-term investment, the wrong one or one past its use by date could give you a pain in the neck. If you’ve been waking up feeling stiff and tired or with a backache even after a good night’s sleep, the chances are your mattress is to blame.
In our grandparents’ time, buying a mattress wasn’t much of a problem since there was only one type available — stuffed with coir. We have an embarrassment of riches, from the regular spring and foam types to the therapeutic ones. “We have a variety of mattresses, right from coir to rubberised foam. We even have orthopaedic ones for people who suffer from problems of the spinal cord. These help get rid of backaches and prevent other spinal cord related ailments,” says S. Chowdhury of Kurlon Ltd, Calcutta.
However, with options galore consumers seem a bit dazed when it comes to selecting the right mattress, especially since they do not know what to look for. “A mattress that keeps your spine in proper alignment by maintaining the optimum body curvature is the right one. Sleeping on such a mattress will not only be comfortable but help maintain your spine in the correct posture,” says Dr Ranjan Kamilya, senior consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Apollo Gleaneagles Hospital, Calcutta.
And the best way to find out if a mattress is comfortable is the Goldilocks way — lie down for a few minutes and get a feel of it. According to Dr Shabnam Agarwal, director of education at NIHS and chief physiotherapist of the Calcutta-based Belle Vue Clinic, a three-inch, high-density rubberised coir mattress with one-inch, high-density foam is ideal as it’s both resilient and comfortable. “I generally recommend a firm mattress that prevents the body from sinking,” says Dr Tanushree Basak, physiotherapist, Nopany Physiotherapy Clinic, Calcutta.
Experts feel that four key points — support, comfort, space and matching sets — need to be kept in mind while purchasing a mattress. A good mattress should gently support your body at all points and keep your spine in the same shape as that of a person with a good standing posture. Cushioning materials and an extra-soft surface impart a plush and comfortable feel. A healthy sleeper moves between 40-60 times a night, including some dozen full body turns. If you sleep with a partner, be sure to select a queen or king-size mattress — both are not only wider but also several inches longer than the standard “double” mattress. And the best way to get your money’s worth is to buy pillows that go well with the mattress.
Another thing that you should consider is the cover of the mattress, the ticking. The stitching that binds the ticking to the top padding of the mattress affects the feel of it. A large well-spaced quilt pattern gives a cushy feeling while a closer pattern with smaller diamonds will give a firm feel. It’s advisable to buy a mattress that has one-inch batting (the padding between the ticking and the top layer of the mattress) as it provides a soft feel and makes the mattress breathable. You should also check if the corners of the mattress have extra support. Since most mattresses look the same, consumers are often duped into buying ones that sag easily or develop some other problem within a year or two. So always look for a warranty. “Don’t buy the ones that come with a guarantee of less than 10 years as that is the average life span of a mattress,” advises Dr Agarwal.
If you buy a spring mattress, ensure that the spring coils are heavy; otherwise the mattress will sag very soon. Remember, however, that doctors advise against using mattresses that are too soft because they might give you back pain. But that doesn’t mean you need a therapeutic mattress for a good night’s sleep.
Most of these special mattresses are made-to- order and often exorbitantly priced. Doctors and physiotherapists say that it’s very rare for them to prescribe such special mattresses. “It was only once that I asked a chronically ill patient to go for an orthopaedic mattress,” says Dr Basak.
“It’s not like only therapeutic mattresses guarantee maintenance of body contours and better sleep. I remember a case when a friend had bought an imported one. But it sagged within a month,” says Dr Agarwal. She maintains that many a time the manufactures infuse lime with foam to make the mattress look good and soft but such mattresses sag within a year or two. “It’s always advisable to buy a branded one and it pays to confirm the constituents of the mattress,” she says.
Are orthopaedic mattresses worth their cost? “No,” says Bijon Mishra, executive director of Consumer Voice, an online consumer awareness magazine. “Manufacturers create a dream in order to sell their goods. It’s up to buyers to do some analysis before investing,” he warns. He maintains that there is no such thing as a medicated or therapeutic mattress.
“I think those with ISO grading are the best ones. For it guarantees that the manufacturers have followed the guidelines while manufacturing the mattress. This also means replacement of defective goods and if a formal complaint is lodged with the consumer grievance cell, serious action can be taken against the manufacturer,” he says.
However, the best way to ensure that you’re a satisfied customer is to shop at a store you know and trust to give you good information, good service and top quality products. Educated and well-informed salespeople can guide you through the many choices. And buy the best quality mattress you can afford. It’s worth every penny that you spend.
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